Jonathan Martin's lack of trust in Dolphins, NFL is troubling

Ted Wells report shows Martin placed no faith in anyone associated with league

February 15, 2014|By Chris Perkins

DAVIE – Jonathan Martin didn’t trust anyone associated with the Dolphins or the NFL. He didn’t trust his teammates, his coaches, the people in the front office, or even his agent.

Think about that: In a group of almost 100 people, Martin trusted no one.

That’s one of the most sobering realizations after reading the Ted Wells report.

Martin believed everyone associated with the game placed more value on a NFL tradition – don’t be a snitch -- than helping a player in distress.

Martin believed everyone associated with the game was completely and totally dedicated to protecting the shield, the term using for upholding long-held customs and thereby maintaining the honor of the NFL and its emblem.

The report said: “Martin admitted that he never told anyone in the Dolphins organization that his teammates were harassing him. Martin claimed that there is a general code in football against “snitching” on fellow players and that he did his best to honor that rule.”

Set aside the vulgar text messages, the male blow-up doll, the nasty voicemail and all the other sensational items in Wells’ 144-page report, which found guards Richie Incognito and John Jerry, and center Mike Pouncey harassed Martin and others.

The fact that Martin, a starter at both right and left tackle for every game of his one-plus seasons on the active roster, didn’t trust anyone associated with the Dolphins or the NFL enough to tell them about the bullying tells a sad story on many levels.

It’s sad that Martin, who had suicidal thoughts on two occasions in 2013, felt so isolated.

It’s sad Martin’s mental state and mentality dissuaded him from informing someone, anyone, about the bullying problem. Martin could have gone to a teammate, a player on the six-man Leadership Council, an assistant coach, head coach Joe Philbin, someone in the front office, his agent, even the psychiatrist the team found for him. But he didn’t trust anyone.

Martin needed help. However, it’s tough to offer help when you don’t know there’s a problem. This is where Martin is at fault.

The report said, “We accept that the fear of being labeled a “snitch” or a “Judas” played

a role in Martin’s decision not to report abuse from his teammates. Martin believed that

going to his coaches or other authority figures meant risking ostracism or even retaliation

from his fellow linemen.

“At the same time, we strongly believe that if Martin had reported the harassment to a coach or front office executive (or even his agent), the team may have been able to address his issues before it was too late. There is no question that the better course of action would have been for Martin to report the abuse.

“We also agree with the view, expressed by many of Martin’s teammates, that it would have been

preferable for Martin’s grievances to be handled inside the Dolphins organization rather

than played out in the national news media.”

Yes, it would have been preferable for this matter to have been handled internally. But that gets to one of the root issues in this scandal.

Martin’s perception of the Dolphins and the NFL was everyone puts more importance on football than life itself. Martin’s perception was everyone would rather protect the shield than protect one of their own.